Bottle package



Oct. 1, 1940. w, J 5 REAMER I 2,216,339

BOTTLE PACKAGE Filed May 5. 193'? 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 16 8 v Q 2 20 20 o ?0 19 Wwm m wzfnew:

Oct. 1,. 1940. w. J. DE REAMER BOTTLE PACKAGE Filed May 5. 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 1, 1940 PATENT oFFlcE amass om PAOKAGE' William J. De Reamer, Crown Point, Ind, asaignor to Manes Consolidated Company, Griilith, Ind., a corporation ill Delaware Application any 5, 1931. Serial No. 140,302

3 Claims. (01. zoo-s5) This invention relates to improvements in method of and means for packing bottles and the like and itconsists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. The term Bottles and the like as herein used is intended to include generally, all glass containers that are used for food products and drinks. The bottles herein shown are of the kind generally used for catsup.

Bottles of catsup are conventionally packed for shipment in containers of double faced corrugated board, generally longer than they are wide, to accommodate packing 24 bottles to the carton in four rows of six bottles each. The top and the bottom of such containers are provided byend and side flaps, with the free edges of the end flaps spaced apart and with the side flaps folded and pasted down in overlapping relation upon the end flaps and with their free edges substantially abutting each other to form a seam. A sealing strip is usually applied to the seam. A liner of similar board is employed upon the inner surface of the side and end walls and a filler also made of similar board stock is disposed in the carton to divide the same into square cells, one for each bottle. The purpose of the filler is to prevent the bottles from actual contact with each other, during the handling and shipment of the carton and the purpose of the liner is not only to stiii'en the carton, but to provide a cushion-like pad between the outer rows of bottles and the side and end walls of the carton. The bottles are generally round and the cells provided by the filler are square and of a diameter somewhat greater than the bottles to permit easy insertion of the bottles in packing the carton.

Such a method and means of packing bottles has several objections, which may be set forth as follows: The liner and filler materially increase the cost of packing and the bottles are not so se-' curely held in their cells as to prevent shifting or movement lengthwise or sidewise of the carton so that breakage at times results.

The double faced corrugated board employed in such cartons is usually about thick. Therefore, in that area where the carton has but a single thickness, i. e. between the ends of the end flaps, the carton has a height dimension that is about more than the height dimension between the end areas of double thickness as provided by the end flaps. This last mentioned height dimension of the carton corresponds to the height of the bottle. Thus, those bottles disposed in the first mentioned area may have an end play equal to the diflerence in height dimensions between the said areas and which under the above conditions approximates about twice the' thickness of the corrugated board used or about 95''. Thus, the bottles in this last mentioned area have end play as well as some side 5 play in their cells. Therefore, the bottles in this area are more subject to breakage with resultant loss and spoilage of others and are most apt to puncture and break through the carton in this 1 area.

One of the objects of the present invention 'is to provide a method and means for packing bottles which overcomes the objections in the conventional method and means now in use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and means for packing bottles and the like, which not only materially reduces packing costs by eliminating the usual liner and fillers, but also holds the bottles against endwise and lateral movement and thereby reduces breakage of the bottles in shipment to a minimum.

Again, it is an object of the invention to provide a pair of packing pads which cooperate to hold the bottles against movement and which pads operate automatically in the sealing of the packed carton, to compensate for the difference in height dimension in the central area or portion of the carton, so that the bottles in said area are as effectively held against movement as those in the end areas or portions of the carton.

Again, it is a further object of the invention to provide a method of and means for this purpose which requires no change inthe carton sealing machines at present in-use in packing bottles.

The above mentioned objects of the invention, as well as others, together with the advantages thereof, will more fully appear as the specification proceeds.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspectiveview of a carton 0! bettles packed in accordance with the invention, with parts shown as broken away for a better 11- lustration thereof.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale, through an end portion of a carton packed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, illustrating one of the stages of packing bottles in accordance with the invention before the carton is passed through a sealing machine.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a conventional carton sealing, machine which may be used in the final step of the improved method of packing a carton. 55

Fig. is a plan view of a fragment of one of the packing pads forming a part of the invention.

Fig. Bis a plan view of a fragment of the other of the packing pads forming a part 'of the inven- 5 tion.

Fig. 7 is a detail vertical sectional view through the packing pad shown in Fig. 5 as taken on the line 1-1 thereof.

Fig. 8 is a detail vertical sectional view through the pac ng pad shown in Fig. 6 as taken on the line 0-8 thereof.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, ill indicates a conventional carton now used in packing glass containers, such as bottles, for shipment. Said container is made of a paper board usually in the form of a double faced corrugated sheet. As shown herein, said carton is longer than it is wide, so as to accommodate go packing two dozen bottles in four transverse rows of six bottles each. It includes upright end walls I l-l i and side walls i2-i2. The end walls have flap extensions I3 and the side walls have flap extensions i||l. g; The end flaps l3il and the side flaps il-il are all of the same height and this height approximates one-half the width of the carton. In manipulating these flaps to form the closed bottom and top of the container, the endflaps are 0 first folded downwardly and inwardly and adhesive is applied thereto and then the side flaps are folded downwardly into superposed relation on the end flaps with their free edges substantially abutting each other. An adhesive strip I! so (see Fig. 1) is then applied to seal the seam as afforded by the abutting edges of the side flaps. As the side-flaps are of a length greater than the height of the end and side flaps, it is apparent that the free edges of the end flaps ar spaced apart. Thus, the top and bottom closures have a double thickness in the planes of the areas of the end flaps and only a single thickness in the planesof the areas between said end flaps.

Ordinarily the double faced corrugated stock a used for cartons of this kind is about of an inch thick. Thus, the single thickness central area of the carton has a inch greater inside depth than the end portions.

In carrying out the present invention with a 5 conventional carton such as before described. I employ a pair of coacting pads or cushions l6 and i1 respectively. one between the bottom closure for the carton and the contained bottles and one between the top closure for the carton 55 and the contained bottles. For ease in future reference to said pads, they will be referred to as bottom" and top" pads respectively. Both pads are preferably made of a molded pulp material because in this way each pad may be made 60 to take the form desired and the pulp material in itself has a cushioning action or effect, as well as a number of other desirable characteristics.

The bottom pad it comprises a body sheet it of pulp material of such shape and area as to be 05 insertabie into the carton and to fit substantially snugly therein. In said sheet are formed downwardly extending pockets l8 arranged in four rows of six pockets each, the pockets being of a shape to receive the bottoms of the bottles to be 70 packed. As shown herein, said pockets are circular and comprise a relatively flat bottom is and an annular side wall 20, integral with both the body sheet and the pocket bottom IS. The side wall has a slight draft for an easy removal of 15 the pad from the dies in which it is formed. In

' sures.

said bottom is formed a plurality of downwardly extending recesses or buttons 2i, the buttons being disposed one axially of the pocket and the other disposed in an annular row near the side wall. These buttons which are of a hemispherical 5 cross section, provide hollow projections on the bottom wall of each pocket which, under certain conditions, as in the presence of pressure, are

crushable into substantially a flat state so as to merge into the bottom for a purpose later to 10 appear. i 4

Portions of the side walls of the adjacent pockets in the rows of, pockets in both directions of the sheet are relatively close together and eoact 'to form hollow truss-like ribs :0- which is flare outwardly at their bottom ends as best appears in' Fig. 8. These rib-like portions act to stiffen the body sheet both longitudinally and transversely and even though the pad is relatively light in weight, it posseses considerable strength to resist buckling and crushing-*pres- The glass containers shown herein are in the form of conventional round bottles 22. The bottom end 23 of each bottle flts snugly in the assog5 ciated pocket IS. The top end of each bottle is formed with a neck 24 of reduced diameter which is usually provided with a closure cap 25.

The top pad i1 comprises a body sheet 26 of pulp material of substantially the same shape and area as the bottom pad it so as to be easily insertable into the carton and to fit substantially snugly therein. In said body sheet are formed upwardly extending pockets 21 arranged in four rows of six pockets each, spaced axially apart to register centrally with the pockets i8 of the bottom pad. The pockets 21 are each of a shape and size to receive the closure cap end of the bottles to be packed. As shown herein, said pockets are circular and each comprises a relatively flat top 0 portion 28 and an annular side wall 29 integral with both the body sheet and the pocket top.

The side wall 29 has a slight draft for the same purpose as the side walls of the pockets is in the bottom pad. Axially in the top of each pocket 21 is formed an upwardly extending recess or button 30 which as shown is of a hemispherical cross section. This button provides an upwardly extending hollow projection on said top wall and said buttons under certain conditions, as when a subjected to pressure are crushable into a substantially flat condition so as to merge into said top wall for a purpose to appear later.

By reason of the fact that the pockets in the top pad are smaller in diameter than those in u the bottom pad, it is apparent that more free area is present in the body sheet 20 of the top pad than is present in the body sheet I. of the bottom pad. The larger the free area is in a body sheet of this kind, the less the stiffness and rigidity to resist buckling strains.

To make the body sheet of the top pad more stifl and rigid to resist buckling strains, portions of the body sheet between the pockets 2'! are formed as upward hollow projections 2| and 32 respectively. The hollow projections ii are made in the form of an X or cross, with the legs thereof extending diagonally of the body sheet and radial with respect to the pockets in the same row diagonally of the body sheet. Preferably n said legs are of a trifle less height than the pockets 21 and the ends of the legs of each projection terminate short of a pocket, each leg having a longitudinal arched formation as best appears in Figs. 5 and 7 respectively. The projections 32 u are disposed in the side and end margins of the body sheet and are arranged in planes between those of the longitudinal and transverse rows of pockets formed in the body sheet. It is apparent that those areas of the body sheet, in the planes between the various rows of pockets are thus stiffened and rigidified by the presence of the projections mentioned.

It is apparent that the pads II will nest with each other and that the pads I! will likewise nest with each other for shipment p rposes.

In carrying out the improved method of packing bottles, with the aid of the top and bottom pads as described, assume that a carton is provided having its bottom closed and formed by the side and end flaps I3 and I4 as before dc,- scribed. A bottom pad I6 is placed in the bottom of the carton, with certain of the buttons 2I resting on the top surface of the end flaps as appears in Fig. 3. These certain buttons will be the buttons associated with the pockets in each of the two transverse end rows of pockets, the buttons on the two intermediate transverse rows being spaced above the upper surface of the side flaps, between the free edges of the end flaps as appears in Fig. 3. If desired, before applying the bottom pad, an adhesive may be applied to either the top surfaces of the end flap or to the bottom surface of the pockets.

The bottles 22 are then placed in the carton, each with its bottom 23 engaged in a pocket I8 and in which it snugly fits.

A top pad I! is then inserted in place so that each pocket 21 receives the cap end 25 of a bottie. As the pockets 2'! are formed on the same centers as the pockets I8 of the bottom pad, the entry of the cap ends of the bottles into said pockets 2! is an easy matter. Before or after he top pad is in position in the carton, adhesive may be applied to the top walls of the pockets 21 Or such adhesive may be applied to the under surface of the end flaps of the carton. The said end flaps I3 are then swung downwardly into position upon the pad so as to rest upon the tops of the pockets 21. Thereafter the side flaps I4 at the top of the carton are folded downwardly into overlapping engagement on the end flaps to close the top of the carton. Before the side flaps have been folded downwardly, adhesive is applied to the top surface of the folded down end flaps. To seal the seam afforded by the abutting edges of the side flaps, the strip I 5 may now be applied to said seam.

With the carton thus far packed, the buttons or pockets in each two transverse end rows of pockets 2! are engaged by said end flaps, but the button on the two intermediate transverse rows of pockets are spaced from the side flap portions above them, a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the end flaps. This condition of the parts appears in Fig. 3. With the packed carton in this condition, it is passed to a sealing machine, having a pair of opposed endless belts 33 and 34 and top and bottom backing or ironing plates 35 and 36 respectively, as appears in Fig. 4. As the carton is carried along between the opposed laps of the belts, a vertical pressure is imposed upon the carton from the top to the bottom. Under this pressure, those buttons 2| and 30 of the pockets I8 and 21 of the bottom and top pads engaged with the end flaps I3 are crushed inwardly to be'substantially flattened out as appears in Fig. 2.

Under this pressure,- the carton as a whole is compressed so that those portions of the side flaps at the top and bottom of the carton, between the end flaps are brought into such substantial engagement with the buttons of the pockets I8 and 2'! as to-but slightly deform them. Thus. said buttons act to grip against said flap portions so that actual contact exists between said butto and said portions of the side flaps.

It is apparent, therefore, that everybottle is held against any end play. Also, by reason of this engagement, the pads cannot buckle under enclwise or lateral force so that all the bottles are firmly heldagainst such movement as per mits engagement of one bottle with another. Thus, even though the closed carton fall a considerable distance, the bottles being held at their extreme ends against any kind of movement, cannot engage to cause breakage.

The improved method and the pads by which it is carried out, has many advantages: It eliminates the necessity of fillers and liners, both of which have heretofore been used in the conventional method of packing bottles and the like; it does not require a change in sealing machinery; it makes the finished carton lighter in weight but stronger; it reduces cost both as to labor and material; it is lighter in weight for reduced transportation charges and it materially reduces in many instances, bottle breakage and attending loss in the ordinary handling the package receives in use.

While in describing the invention I have referred in detail to the form, arrangement and construction of the parts involved, as well as in the sequence in the steps in the use thereof, the same is to be considered only in the illustrative sense so that I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A package of bottles or the like comprising a container having top and bottom closure portions, a member made of molded pulp material non-shiftably engaged upon the bottom closure portion and iormed with upwardly opening pockets each with a closed bottom wall that substantially engages upon said bottom closure portion and which pockets snugly receive and hold in spaced relation one end of the bottles in said container, with the extremity of said end of each bottle substantially engaged upon the bottom wall of its pocket, and a second member of molded pulp material non-shiftably arranged in the top portion of .the container and formed with downwardly opening pockets each with a closed top wall that substantially engages against the top closure portion and which pockets receive and hold in spaced relation, the other end of said bottles, with the extremity thereof substantially engaged with the top wall of said pockets, at least the bottom wall of the pocket in one of said members having portions that are crushed inwardly by reason of the engagement of the same with associated closure portions.

2. A package of bottles orthe like comprising a container having top and bottom closure portions, 2, member made of molded pulp material non-shiftably engaged upon the bottom closure portion and formed with upwardly opening pockets each with a closed bottom wall that substantially engages upon said bottom closure portion and which pockets snugly receive and hold in spaced relation, one end of the bottles in said container, with the extremity of said end of each bottle substantially engaged upon the bottom wall of its pocket, and a second member of molded pulp material non-shiitably arranged in the top portion oi'the container and formed with downwardly opening pockets, each with a closed top wall that substantially engages against the top closure portion and which pockets to receive and hold in spaced relation, the other end 01' said bottles, with the extremity thereof substantially engaged with the top 'wall of said pockets, the wall of the pockets oi both oi said members having portions that are crushed inwardly by reason or the engagement of the same with said top and bottom closure portions.

3. A package of bottles or the like comprising a carton having a top and a bottom, each formed of inwardly folded pairs or side and end flaps with said end flaps innermost, a member made of molded pulp material non-shiitably arranged in the bottom portion of the carton and having upwardly opening pockets each with a closed bottom wall and which pockets receive and hold in spaced relation one end of the bottles in the carton, the closed bottom wall of each pocket having arcuately spaced, depressed'portions that are crushed inwardly by reason or their engagement with said associated innermost end flaps o! the carton bottom, the said portions or the pockets between said end flaps substantially engaging those portions of the associated side flaps, exposed between said end flaps, and a second member made 0! molded pulp material nonshiitably arranged in the top portion oi. the

' carton and having downwardly opening pockets each with a closed top wall and which pockets receive and hold in spaced relation the other end of said bottles, with the extremity thereof substantiailly engaged with the top wall of said pockets, the closed top wall of each oi said pockets having arcuately spaced depressed portions that are crushed inwardly by reason of their engagement with the innermost end flaps of the carton top, the said portions 01 said second pockets in said member between said end flaps substantially engaging those portions of the associated side flaps exposed between said end flaps.

WILLIAM J. DE REAMER. 

